Interview

CARSON, Calif. -- The LA Galaxy won their second preseason match of 2015 with a 6-1 result over Cal-State Fullerton in a closed-door scrimmage on their training field otuside StubHub Center.

Andre Auras notch a brace in the match with two second half goals while Robbie Keane, Charlie Rugg, Rafael Garcia, and Raul Mendiola each added a goal of their own. The Galaxy also conceded in the second half after Brian Rowe made a stop in the second half, but had a rebound trickle out for a Fullerton goal from close range. LA used a total of 22 players in the match and saw their preseason record move to 2-0-0.

"Our fitness is getting a little bit better, we're getting a little bit better with our ball movement, but we still have a way to go. We're still just basically a week into preseason," Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena told reporters after the match. "I thought the Cal-State Fullerton team played really hard and were a good test for us. They didn't make it easy on us which was good. We had an advantage."

PHILADELPHIA – Count retired LA Galaxy legend Landon Donovan among those who were impressed by the club’s ability to acquire Liverpool FC and former England captain Steven Gerrard to replace him as the team’s third Designated Player.

In an interview with LA Galaxy Insider after the announcement that Major League Soccer will be naming their Most Valuable Player award, the “Landon Donovan MVP trophy,” Donovan said that he was immensely pleased when he heard LA had signed the 34-year-old English soccer star.

“I was incredibly impressed with the [Galaxy’s] ability to bring in a player like Steven Gerrard and that, he’s the quality of player that they wanted,” Donovan said. “When I played at Everton [Liverpool’s arch rival], Everton fans hate Liverpool players and Liverpool fans, but Steven Gerrard was the one player that everyone respected on both sides. Everyone in the Premier League has so much respect for him and I can’t think of a better person to come here and hopefully lead the team to a sixth trophy next year.”

PHILADELPHIA -- The LA Galaxy dealt one of chief contributors to their 2014 MLS Cup title run on Thursday by trading Marcelo Sarvas to the Colorado Rapids, but the club now appears primed to replace the departing Brazilian with another top tier talent.

"It's a deal that I believe is beneficial for Marcelo," Arena told Carlisle on Thursday. "It's something he wanted to do and puts him in a good position financially. And it allows us to have some flexibility in continuing to build our roster in 2015. So we'll have the ability to look into the possibility of bringing in some other players."

In addition to Arena speaking out about the Brazilian midfielder's departure, Sarvas' partner in central midfield Juninho also addressed his departure via his personal instagram.

"Marcelo, I want to wish you the best of luck in the next step of your life. Thank you for teaching me a lot of things about soccer, especially never giving up no matter the situation. You are a very good player and an example of dedication and companionship," Juninho said. "We were a good duo. It was a pleasure to play and live by your side and to know you in and off the field. Good luck to you in your next new club. LA, my family and I gonna miss you, Champion.'

LA Galaxy Homegrown Player Bradford Jamieson IV has been named to the U.S. U-20 head coach Tab Ramos' 20-man roster for the 2015 U-20 CONCACAF Championship in Jamaica.

After being drawn into Group A, U.S. will open the tournament on Jan. 9 against Guatemala before facing Panama on Jan. 11, Aruba on Jan. 14, the host nation Jamaica on Jan. 18, and finally Trinidad and Tobago on Jan. 21. Only four countries will qualify from the tournament for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

Jamieson joins the team after playing a major role for USL PRO side LA Galaxy II and making his professional debut for the Galaxy in July 2014. The 18-year-old is among six players who will represent MLS clubs and is the second with an LA Galaxy link, joining former Galaxy Academy product Paul Arriola who is currently with Liga MX side Club Tijuana.

CARSON, Calif. -- The LA Galaxy are expecting to be back to full fitness -- or at least close to it, when they kick off in the MLS Cup Final against the New England Revolution on Sunday.

A.J. DeLaGarza (left hamstring strain) was the most glaring absence from the squad that dispatched Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday, but in an interview with reporters the morning after, the 27-year-old said that he expects to play in MLS Cup this weekend.

"I feel a lot better. I've been working out the last couple of days, but I didn't train too much in the buildup to the last game against Seattle so it wasn't right to go out in a situation like that especially on that turf. You saw that Osvaldo Alonso was not himself and he had two weeks to get ready for that," said DeLaGarza. "I'll be fine this weekend. I'm going to get back into full training."

Another question mark is Juninho who played the hero for the Galaxy with the series-clinching goal against the Sounders. It appeared that the Brazilian suffered an injury in the 87th minute that forced Bruce Arena to pull him from the match when a subsitution of another banged up player (Marcelo Sarvas) was already in the cards.

Despite needing to be helped off the field, Juninho insisted after the game that he'll be ready for Sunday's meeting with the New England Revolution.

"It was so cold out there and at the end of the game there is a lot of pressure so I felt a cramp," said Juninho. " I'm good though. I'll be good for the next game."

A penalty kick goal by former Santa Clara soccer star Jason Cunliffe in the 14th minute gave Matao an early advantage that was doubled just three minutes before half time when Shane Malcolm scored. Chen Hao-wei scored for Chinese Taipei in the 57th minute, but the DeLaGarza-led Guam defense held firm to prevent a comeback.

Guam will take on group stage favorite North Korea on Sunday in a match that will likely decide which team advances to the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup. North Korea started the qualifying group off on a high note on Thursday with a 2-1 victory over Hong Kong.

Ahead of his final regular season match at the StubHub Center, Landon Donovan sits down with ESPN's Kenny Mayne to discuss his plans after he retires at the end of the LA Galaxy's 2014 campaign.

In addition to discussing his plans to put on weight after his career ends, Donovan tells Mayne about his favorite moment at StubHub Center and his reasoning on why he deserved to be on the U.S. squad during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

CARSON, Calif. -- It's safe to say that Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Joe Nasco had one of the worst nights of his career, and he did it all without playing a single minute.

Just 34 seconds into the game, Alan Gordon skirted past Nasco during a scramble in front of goal, but before he could get a shot off at an empty net, Nasco yanked down the forward. Despite the extremely early juncture of the game, referee Baldomero Toledo pointed to the spot and handed out a red card for Nasco which was the quickest red card in league history.

Gyasi [Zardes] and [Alan] Gordon made great runs across the box and Todd [Dunivant] put in a great cross in front of the goal and when you do that, good things happen," said Landon Donovan. "Gordon did a good job to get his feet on it and was going to score and got pulled down, so that’s part of the game and it’s unfortunate for them."

Prior to Nasco's foible, the previous holder of the dubious distinction was former New York Red Bulls defender Carlos Johnson, who was sent off in the second minute of a match with the then-Kansas City Wizards back on April 23, 2009.

Although Nasco will likely have to carry the distinction for some time, he got little sympathy from the home side.

"If the goalkeeper doesn’t do that, then they don’t get the red card," said defender Omar Gonzalez. "That’s the way the game is played, those are the rules. It’s tough that’s the way it went down, but that had to happen."

CARSON, Calif. -- Gyasi Zardes endured a brief three-game scoring drought in his career season, but kicked back into gear with an impressive two goal showing in the LA Galaxy's 3-0 victory over Chivas USA on Sunday.

Zardes opened the scoring in the 44th minute with a clinical one-time finish that sailed past Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy and curled inside the far post. The 22-year-old coupled his lovely individual effort with a tidy finish for LA's third goal in the 71st minute as tapped in a Landon Donovan cross to provide the finishing touch of an 11 pass combination by the Galaxy. With his two goals against Chivas, Zardes now has 12 goals in 25 matches this season, and is the top scoring American-born player in MLS.

Five of Zardes' 12 goals this season came during the Galaxy's impressive 19 goal month of August that saw LA rocket to second place in the Western Conference and second in the standings for the MLS Supporters' Shield. Although the 22-year-old with the unforgettable hairdo is pleased to play his part in the Galaxy's offensive explosion, he's quick to recognize his teammates' role in getting him the ball.

“To be honest, our midfield is just killing it in terms. You look at the stats, and we’re just touching the ball a lot. And the defenders are just keeping a clean sheet, so the whole team is really working together," said Zardes. "As a team, we’re just really building off each other and really being aggressive.”

And according to Galaxy captain Robbie Keane as long as Zardes gets into those dangerous positions, he'll continue to be a threat to score.

"Ultimately as a striker you’re judged on scoring goals," Keane said. "So if he continues to get himself in the right position, certainly myself and Landon, and the lads up there can certainly get him goals."

With Zardes scoring in bunches and even going as far to admit that he'd like to one day be the league's top goal scorer, one question remains: could a national team call-up be far behind? Even the always humble Zardes admits that he's hoping to get a call from Jurgen Klinsmann soon.

"Everybody wants to make the national team. That's always a goal for a soccer player," said Zardes. "If that's not your goal then I don't think that you should be playing soccer."